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And no end to the cycle of violence that is No1 on the election agenda around here.

I pray this lad will be processed peacefully and receive true justice as I carry on to Angie’s Diner, at the heart of the African-American community where Scott lived.

It’s there that Randal Adams tells me policing matters more to millions of voters than how best to defeat ISIS, or how big a wall should be built on the Mexican border.

“It is for many people in America the number one issue, yet both candidates are too afraid to speak about let alone tackle it head,” says the 28-year-old.

“It shows weakness on both parts. Policing here is broke, and neither of them knows how to fix it.

“They’d rather talk about issues abroad than those happening in our backyards.”

The Mirror's Chris Bucktin (right) talks to local residents Randall Adams and Herb Berry in north Charlotte (Image: James Breeden)

Clinton wants legislation that will end racial profiling by police. Trump wants to bring back controversial stop-and-frisk, which he says brought down New York City’s crime rate in the 90s.

Despite both holding divided views people in places such as Charlotte, as well as Missouri, South Carolina, Illinois and Cleveland, are united. They believe, after three years of deaths, some argue murders, by their police, law enforcement needs a root and branch overhaul.

Already this year America has seen more than 890 people killed by those employed to protect and serve.

Six weeks ago the streets of the state’s largest city, Charlotte, were awash with blood following Scott’s death.

He was shot dead in September by police as he waited for his son to return to from school. Officers had been in the area looking for a suspect with an outstanding warrant when they stumbled across Scott. Within hours as the circumstances of his death spread like wildfire on social media, hundreds of protestors took to the streets.

As forensics remained at the scene of his death, demonstrations had already turned violent with police using tear gas to disperse an angry crowd of 200, who were hurling rocks.

Charlotte had become the latest sprawling metropolis to become a tinderbox of racial unrest. “Some of the deaths we have seen are just modern day lynchings,” argues decorator Sinatra McIntyre.

Herb Berry said: 'We have to stand up to these abuses of power being committed by those employed to protect and serve' (Image: James Breeden)

As we chat in the diner – the atmosphere has changed from a hive of noise to the silence of a library as people listen to our discussion. Of 15 or so diners only Randal and Sinatra, 52, dare speak.

“Say the wrong thing, and people fear they’ll begin being targeted by the cops,” he says. “That is just how much power police hold and how much fear they install in the communities. It’s not just here, my friends across the country say the same.

“Policing in the States is a major issue and one that will sway people one way or the other. Which way depends on who you believe it is best placed to tackle it. Trump is entirely the wrong.

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“He wants to take us backwards not forwards. The stop-and-frisk policy gives, even more, power to the police to detain anyone they want without reason. It will lead to more confrontation and more deaths.

“Clinton’s desire to end racial profiling is commendable, but it would never happen legislation or not.

“With that said, she has my vote. She believes in racial equality and the desire for justice to be administered fairly not by the colour of someone’s skin.”

Violence has sent shudders through America for years now, as evidence of police brutality is captured on phones.

The horrific footage has validated long-held grievances of African-America and changed attitudes to police brutality.

Deadly policing methods in the US have sparked riots (Image: James Breeden)

Trump has been criticised for failing to empathise. It’s why the billionaire trails Clinton in North Carolina’s polls.

Currently, in state polls, he is behind her 47.6 to 43.4. In 2012 about 60% of ballots here were cast before election day. Absentee voting is already underway and early voting began on October 20, long before the FBI reopened its probe into Clinton’s emails.